Chapter 1 Criminal Justice Today

1. Chapter 1Criminal Justice Today

2. Learning Objective 1 • Describe the two most common models of how society determines which acts are criminal.

3. Learning Objective 1 • The Consensus Model • Assumes that a diverse group of people have similar morals and share an ideal of what is “right” and “wrong.” • Crime are acts that violate this shared value system and are deemed harmful to society.

4. Learning Objective 1 • The Conflict Model • Assumes that society is so diverse that members do not share moral attitudes. • The most politically powerful members of society have the most influence on criminal law and impose their value system on the community.

5. Learning Objective 2 • Define crime and the different types of crime.

6. Learning Objective 2 • An Integrated Definition of Crime • Crime is an action that is punishable under criminal law as defined by a society. • Considered an offense against society as a whole, not against the victim. • Punishable by statutorily determined sanctions that bring about a loss of personal freedom.

7. Learning Objective 2 • Criminal behavior can be grouped into six categories: • Violent crime • Property crime • Public order crime • White collar crime • Organized crime • High-tech crime

8. Learning Objective 2 • The Criminal Justice System is composed of three components: • Law enforcement agencies • Courts • Corrections • The Criminal Justice System divides its power between the federal government and the states. This is known as federalism.

9. Learning Objective 3 • Outline the three levels of law enforcement.

10. Learning Objective 3 • Local law enforcement • City police agencies • County Sheriffs • State law enforcement • State police • Highway patrols • Other state law enforcers such as fire marshals, wildlife wardens, beverage control officers, etc.

11. Learning Objective 3 • Federal law enforcement • The Department of Homeland Security • The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) • The Secret Service • The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) • The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) • The Courts • The United States has a duel court system. • Comprised of one federal court and fifty different state court systems.

12. Learning Objective 4 • List the essential elements of the corrections systems.

13. Learning Objective 4 • The Corrections systems includes: • Prisons • Jails • Community-based corrections (ex: probation) • Parole

14. Learning Objective 5 • Explain the difference between the formal and informal criminal justice processes.

15. Learning Objective 5 • The formal criminal justice process • Functions as an assembly-line • The informal criminal justice process • Based on the use of discretion

16. Learning Objective 6 • Describe the layers of the “wedding cake” model.

17. Learning Objective 7 • Contrast the crime control and due process models.

18. Discussion Questions • What are the major steps in the pretrial process? • Are there any potential conflicts between due process and crime control?

19. Video: Pre-Trial Release Officer – Fulton County Superior Court

20. Learning Objective 7 • The crime control model • Primary emphasis on the right of society to be protected from crime. • The due process model • Primary emphasis on the right of the individual to be protected from the power of government.

21. Learning Objective 8 • List the major issues in criminal justice today.

22. Learning Objective 8 • Concern about violent crime • Gun sales and gun control • The illegal drugs problem • Challenges to law enforcement • Street gangs • DNA profiling • Homeland security • Challenges to corrections • The growing prison population • Economics of incarceration